Graduate and Undergraduate Mentors in Conservation Behavior 2014

Here is a list of scientists affiliated with academic institutions who conduct research in animal behavior and conservation. If you think that your name should be included in this list, please contact the Committee Chair Bruce Schulte

My research has
historically focused on the evolution of reproductive behavior, but
has more recently delved into the behavior and conservation interface
by investigating the behavior of species of conservation concern and
the effects of human disturbance on animal behavior. For example,
through graduate student projects, we have studied stress levels of
endangered black-footed ferrets in captivity and their post-release
survival in the wild, the reproductive ecology of the rare Island
Scrub-Jay, and the effects of human activity and noise on elk,
pronghorn, mule deer, and prairie dog behavior.

I
work primarily on societally-relevant biodiversity conservation and
restoration issues, systematically applying a problem-solving
approach. My current main research focus is on population biology of
rare and endangered animal species (insects and vertebrates,
especially birds and bats) of temperate, Mediterranean and Alpine
biomes, and on community ecology (plants, invertebrates, vertebrates)
of agro-ecosystems and Alpine ecosystems (grasslands, vineyards,
fruit tree plantations, forests, treeline habitats and floodplain
rivers).

My
research interests center on how risk of predation shapes foraging
behavior. My thinking was heavily shaped by opportunities to work in
Botswana and the Galapagos Islands. In Botswana, I avoided potential
predators and in the Galapagos, lots did not avoid me. These
experiences taught me that much of what we regard as normal behavior
is influenced by the risk of predation. My experiences working in
different countries have also fueled my interest in conservation. I
am working on a book that emphasizes the conservation relevance of
behavioral ecology and working with students to address how local
species deal with environmental change. In my teaching, I also seek
to connect the global with the local and theory with practice.

My
research approach combines theory, experimentation, and long-term
field studies. I strive to convey the realization that evolutionary
processes acting on individuals drive the distribution and size of
wildlife populations. I am interested in describing how animals are
distributed in space and time, whether through the need of acquiring
resources or to avoid predators, humans and competitors, and why some
individuals are faithful to mates and territories while others
readily take advantage of alternative options. This pursuit includes
assessment of the evolution and maintenance of individual attributes
like health, stature, experience, personality traits, and secondary
sexual characteristics (crests, color patches).

Broadly, I am
interested in the evolution of social and antipredator behavior and
the ramifications mechanisms of behavior have for higher-level
ecological processes and for wildlife conservation. I have spent
over a decade studying the evolution of complex communication and
sociality and used the 14 species of marmots (Marmota-cat-sized
sciurid rodents found throughout the northern hemisphere) as a model
system. Much of my marmot work now focuses on the yellow-bellied
marmots of the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (www.rmbl.org)
which have been studied continuously since 1962. A main theme in my
research is integrating knowledge of animal behavior into
conservation biology. Ultimately, I aim to illustrate, through
examples, how knowledge of behavior should influence policy. In
addition to my more theoretical work, I have been actively engaged in
using ecotourism as a form of community development and as a way to
conserve natural resources. My theoretical research interests are
particularly relevant to the applied work because ecotourism can
adversely affect wildlife. Ultimately, it is the wildlife's
perception of human impacts that matters.

I have worked in
Conservation Behavior for over 15 years, including undergraduates in
studies with community partners as often as possible. A few examples
of projects in which I have been involved include: Behavioral
ecology of reintroduced populations of North American river otters
(Lontra canadensis) in Missouri; Play, olfactory response,
and foraging ecology of coastal river otters, particularly in effort
to deter their use of local docks, boats and cabins in Kachemak Bay,
AK; CoastWalk beach clean-up and assessment of area use by coastal
invertebrates and vertebrates in Kachemak Bay, including biannual
catalog of intertidal zone epi-macrofauna and algae; Identification
of killer whales (Orcinus orca) and humpback whales (Megaptera
novaeangliae) in Prince William Sound and Kenai Fjords,
AK; Foraging ecology and tagging unit for unusual mortality event of
sea otters (Enhydra lutris) in Kachemak Bay; Rescue, and when
deceased, necropsies and some articulations, of several cetacean and
pinniped specimens, including threatened and endangered species
(e.g., gray, minke, humpback & Stejneger’s beaked whales, sperm
whale calf, Steller sea lion, harbor seals, elephant seals), and many
sea otters; most events included undergraduate participation ; and,
Preliminary behavioral and population assessment of a population of
giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis) in Guyana

I
am interested in mentoring students who wish to apply a behavioral
approach to identifying, elucidating and/or managing animal
conservation problems. In the context of conservation behavior,
topics my students and I have researched include the effects of
habitat restoration on oviposition site selection by salamanders, a
meta-analysis of the impact of behavioral disturbance by humans on
animal fitness, roost site associations in big-eared bats, and the
effects of habitat disturbance on male mating strategies in the
Neotropical ocellated turkey. Although my own research interests
focus on sexual selection in birds, prospective students are welcome
to have a different focus in taxon or study topic as long as the
proposed work is fundamentally behavioral. I helped start the ABS
Conservation Committee, served as committee chair, co-edited the
first text on conservation behavior (Clemmons & Buchholz 1997
Behavioral Approaches to Conservation in the Wild, Cambridge Univ.
Press), and continue to encourage animal behaviorists to apply their
skills to the conservation of biodiversity (Buchholz 2007, Buchholz &
Hanlon 2013, Cooke et al. 2014).

I am interested in innovative and specific projects that link
behavioral ecology and conservation biology, particularly in Africa.
I edited a book entitled Behavioral Ecology and Conservation Biology
(Oxford University Press, 1998), and recently worked with Paul
Sherman on ways to get animal behaviorists more involved in
conservation.

Dr.
Barbara ClucasLecturerWildlife
and Fisheries Building, Room 274

I am an animal
behaviorist who studies how interspecific interactions affect species
survival and contribute to the evolution of behavior. I received a
PhD in Animal Behavior in 2008 from the University of California,
Davis and my postdoctoral work at the University of Washington
integrated the fields of animal behavior and urban ecology.
Currently, I am at Humboldt State University in the Department of
Wildlife where I teach a wide variety of courses (e.g., animal
behavior, conservation biology and wildlife ecology and management).
My research focuses on how species adapt to urbanization and survive
in human-dominated environments, as well as how we can conserve
nature in urban areas to benefit both humans and wildlife. My work
lies at the interface of animal behavior, ecology and conservation

In my lab, we strive
to apply theoretical principles of ecology, animal behavior, and
conservation science to natural systems. My research has emphasized
the conservation of mammals, often focusing on carnivores due to
their sensitivities to environmental disturbances. I do not feel
limited, however, to the study of any specific taxon. Rather, we
strive to ask and answer interesting scientific questions that help
promote the conservation of earth’s biological diversity. Because
of my commitment to, and passion for, conservation, much of my
research, and that of my lab, examines the impacts of anthropogenic
disturbances on the natural world.

Several graduate
students and I have studied how animals move through and select
habitat in landscapes that have been altered by humans with a
particular focus barriers and corridors. These studies have
addressed birds (Belisle, Gillies, Tremblay), small mammals
(McDonald and Porter), wolves (Whittinton) and elk (myself). We
have studied barriers in the form of roads (Whittington, McDonald,
Belisle, myself), forestry (Porter), and agriculture (Darlow,
Gillies, Hinam, Poulin, Knopff). We have also studied road
effects on bird health (Byers, Dube, Longmore) and communication
(Proppe). A second theme of my research program is to
understand and mitigate sources of human-wildlife conflict.
These studies have used deterrence and aversive conditioning to alter
the movement behavior and habitat use of birds (Ronconi), elk
(Kloppers, Spaedtke) and bears (Homstol, Warrington). We
have also explored the role of habitat selection in perceptions of
and potential for conflict between humans and cougars (Knopff) and
coyotes (Cembrowski, Hutt, Murray). More generally, I am
interested in the interface between Behavioral Ecology and
Conservation Biology. I especially enjoy exploring novel ways of
advancing conservation practice with empirical methods and theory
from behavior. My past work focused on behavioral ecology in
seabirds, primarily brood reduction in crested penguins.

Students
in my courses are challenged to learn content and conceptual
material, and to apply this information to solve problems. Students
who do well in my classes display high-level critical thinking
skills, successfully analyze complex situations, and effectively
communicate their work in both verbal and written contexts. My
research program seeks to understand the magnitude of and factors
influencing bird mortality resulting from window collisions, which is
one of many threats to birds in urban landscapes. This is important
because urbanization is accelerating faster than human population
growth, and knowledge of how the urban environment affects bird
survival is urgently needed for appropriate conservation and
management strategies.

My research focuses
on the intersection between animal ecology, behavior, and
conservation. We use a variety of quantitative techniques (social
networks, occupancy modeling, remote cameras, etc.) to understand how
management of landscapes shapes animal communities and behavior.
Currently, my research examines the response of the mammalian
community (small mammals, bats, and mesocarnivores) to fire-based
restoration of montane longleaf pine. My lab group consists of both
undergraduate and master’s level student collaborators.

In my lab, we are
interested in three main topics. First, understanding the
physiological and ecological factors accounting for the
inter-specific variability in detection windows (areas surrounding an
individual where the probabilities of detecting tourists increase) to
better estimate buffer areas to protect wildlife. Second,
establishing the role of habituation and sensitization in the
responses of wildlife to different types of human activities. Third,
determining suitable management strategies that promote co-existence
between wildlife and humans in protected areas and airports,
particularly taking into consideration endangered and threatened
species. We also are interested in understanding the mechanisms
birds use to gather information that is relevant for fitness
(anti-predator scanning, foraging, and mate choice) from both
physiological and behavioral perspectives. To that end, we study how
some visual properties (visual field configuration, visual acuity,
variations in the density of photoreceptors and ganglion cells across
the retina, sensitivity of visual pigments) influence scanning
behavior in different ecological contexts. We assess these
visual-behavior relationships in a wide variety of bird species
because ultimately we seek to understand the evolution of mechanisms
of visual information use in species with different life histories
(e.g., solitary vs. social species, species that live in open vs.
closed habitats, etc.).

As a comparative
psychologist, I strive to find possibilities for my research to aid
in conservation. My recent experience on the organizing committee
for the Conservation Workshop at the last Animal Behavior Society
Conference impressed upon me the possibilities for a
behavioral/cognitive perspective. The solutions that our group
devised to combat human-coyote conflict leaned primarily on
habituation and operant conditioning processes. Locally, the
Chattanooga Nature Center houses red wolves in collaboration with the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. I am currently working with Nature
Center, providing students for observations of their red wolves. We
will examine their general behavior in captivity, as well as breeding
behaviors that may eventually lead to an increase in the genetic
diversity of the wild population in North Carolina through pup
fostering. At the Tennessee Aquarium, I am currently engaged in
research on sensory discrimination in giant Pacific octopuses, and I
have been in talks with their Conservation Institute about a
behavioral perspective on their work. My ongoing research on
elephant cognition will help with mitigating human-animal conflict by
expanding our knowledge of problem solving abilities in that species.

I am a
behavioral ecologist broadly interested in
sexual selection, speciation and the anti-predator behavior. My
conservation related research has several themes
including Predator-prey dynamics and the effects of introduced
predators in numerous aquatic systems of fish and salamanders. I am
also interested in other anthropogenic effects on behavior and stress
response in these aquatic systems.

My conservation –
related research and teaching focuses on three areas: (1) Road
ecology. I conduct research on how to identify and mitigate
environmental problems associated with roads and road traffic in
North America and in Latin America. (2) Wetland restoration. I
evaluate the success of wetland restoration programs done at
maintaining wetland associated biodiversity and ecosystem services in
human-dominated landscapes. (3) Management for Species of Greatest
Conservation Need. I investigate how habitat management can be used
to maintain or recover populations of declining species such as
golden-winged warbler, spruce grouse, or Blanding’s turtle. I
welcome applications for graduate work – I supervise graduate
students in Clarkson University’s interdisciplinary Environmental
Science & Engineering and Bioscience & Biotechnology
programs.

As
a faculty member in the department of animal behavior, ecology and
conservation, I teach several courses on zoo biology, as well as the
department's conservation biology course, and a field course in South
Africa (wildlife ecology and conservation). My research has
primarily been zoo-based. I am often working with endangered
species, thus there is great interest in enhancing captive breeding
and better understanding the specific environmental requirements of
different species. Consequently, my research has largely focused on
the effects of environment on behavior. This includes both the
physical environment and the social environment, both of which may
have far-reaching effects on behavior, reproduction, and overall
well-being. I am particularly interested in patterns of reproductive
and parental behavior in captive animals, and in quantifying the
effects of environmental change on behavior.

Long-term maintenance of captive populations, and release of captive
animals into the wild, is one of many approaches to endangered
species conservation. For conservation biologists working with
captive populations, however, a fundamental question is the
following: How has captivity altered the behavior, morphology, and
physiology of captive-bred animals? Broadly, I am interested in how
populations respond to rapid changes in their environment.
Specifically, I have focused on this question of how animals respond
when they are brought into captivity and when, generations later,
captive-bred individuals are released back into the wild. Altered
selective pressures and increased stress levels are often associated
with novel captive environments thus potentially changing the
expression and distribution of behavioral, physiological, and
morphological traits. Such changes can have profound effects on the
success of conservation programs that use captive-bred animals.
Because experimental work should always be fleshed out with theory,
and theory tested with experimental work, I have used a
multi-dimensional approach that includes lab, field, and theoretical
work to address these issues. I am currently building a lab at the
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in which I will test behavioral
change in captive-bred populations of Microtus pennsylvanicus and
measure survivorship upon release into controlled experimental
enclosures in the field.

I
am the science liaison for the Southwest Fisheries Science Center,
NOAA Fisheries Service, an ecologist in the Protected Resources
Division and co-founder of the Center for Marine Biodiversity and
Conservation (CMBC) at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San
Diego. My research focuses on the conservation and behavioral
ecology of marine vertebrates. I study patterns of sociality and the
impacts of anthropogenic activities on social structure and
population dynamics. My work integrates information derived from
genetic, acoustic, observational and phylogenetic sources. Examples
of current and recent projects conducted in partnership with
collaborators and students include: social and behavioral aspects of
cetacean responses to over-exploitation, genetic population
structure in sperm whales and California sea lions, social structure
of sperm whales using genetic markers, global acoustic biogeography
of blue whales, vessel response behavior and social disruption in
eastern tropical Pacific dolphins involved in the purse-seine fishery
for tuna, sexual ecology and cetacean mating systems, human-animal
conflict: social learning and depredation (the taking of fish by
marine mammals of fishing gear), and social, sexual and cultural
drivers of diversification in cetaceans and fishes.

Mike
Mooring has been conducting behavioral ecology research since 1985,
mounting field studies of African antelope, North American ungulates,
and Neotropical mammals. Over the course of this time he has worked
in 6 countries and 5 states, navigating the logistical challenges of
field research in a variety of contexts. Mooring’s dissertation
research focused on the parasite-defense behavior of impala in
Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia. He received his Ph.D. from the
Animal Behavior Graduate Group at UC Davis in 1993 and then completed
postdoctoral positions at the University of Pretoria, University of
Alberta, and UC Davis. Since coming to PLNU in 1997, he has directed
over 50 students in field research projects. His current work in
Costa Rica is at the interface of ecology and conservation biology.
Since 2010, he and his students have worked with local partners
(national parks, private reserves, universities, conservation NGOs)
to survey the large mammalian predators and prey inhabiting the cloud
forests of the western Talamanca Cordillera. Although largely
unstudied, the Talamanca is critical habitat for six species of
felids (jaguar, puma, jaguarundi, ocelot, margay, oncilla), an
invasive canid (coyote), and many large prey species (e.g., Baird’s
tapir, collared peccary, red brocket deer, paca). The project
promotes community-based conservation by empowering local communities
to protect their own wildlife by promoting environmental education
and citizen science. Prior to Costa Rica, Mooring directed 21
students in a long-term NSF-funded study of bison reproductive
biology (behavior, acoustical communication, endocrinology, genetics)
in the Sandhills of Nebraska (2003-2009). He has continued the
genetic study with the aim of characterizing the lifetime
reproductive success of bison bulls. From 1998-2002, he directed 12
undergraduates in studying bighorn sheep in New Mexico, bison in
Montana, and comparative research on 60 ungulate species at the San
Diego Wild Animal Park. His research topics have included parasite
defense, sexual selection, behavioral endocrinology, sexual
segregation, acoustical communication, and predator-prey
interactions.

Research conducted by members of my lab group typically concerns
behavioral and community ecology, with many projects focusing on
predator-prey relationships that involve at least one species of
reptile or amphibian. Subtle changes in the structural complexity of
a microhabitat may influence not only the expression of animal
behavior, but also patterns of habitat selection and the frequency of
organismal interactions. Studies of this type can elucidate the
factors regulating the community dynamics of species within
particular habitat types, and have implications in conservation
biology where the choice of sites appropriate for preservation is
often debated. I would welcome inquiries from prospective Master of
Science (thesis only) students.

I
have broad interests in behavioral ecology and evolutionary biology.
My research focuses in three main areas: the link between different
levels of social organization and the cognitive abilities of animals,
the association between socio-sexual behaviors and the communication
of signals for the recognition of kin (particularly the role of
memory in kin recognition), and the application of behavioral
paradigms in conservation biology. I am intrigued by the relevance
of cognitive repertoires, cognitive legacies and collecting reasoning
in conservation behavior efforts. I work (or have worked) with
different biological systems including mammals, birds, and nematodes.

My
interest in the interplay between conservation biology and animal
behavior began during my PhD work on the effects of translocation on
the behavior of African elephants. I realized that examining the
behavior of animals could provide important assessment tools for
conservation actions and insights on preserving biodiversity. At the
same time, wildlife management actions can provide unique
opportunities for studying interesting questions in animal behavior.
In my work on translocated elephants, I used the social and spatial
behavior of the elephants post-translocation to develop
recommendations on who to move and where to release them in future
translocations. I also took the opportunity of a large-scale
behavioral manipulation to examine how social structure and habitat
choice are affected by arriving at a novel environment, which is also
relevant to naturally dispersing and migrating animals. Currently, I
study how group composition affects the collective behavior of ants.
Recently, I began to explore how behavioral variation among workers
affects the collective range expansion of the highly invasive
Argentine ant. By integrating a behavioral approach to the study of
invasive species, I illuminate new mechanisms that impact the
progression of invasion, which will potentially help control the
spread of exotic species in introduced ranges. Furthermore, I study
the collective foraging behavior of the native black harvester ant,
Messor andrei. I have now found stark differences between the
behavior of colonies in northern and southern CA suggesting that
climate drives behavioral modification. By expanding the geographic
and climatic range of my study sites, I will be able to explore the
effects of climate change on keystone species such as the harvester
ant that has a great impact on the plant community in its habitat.

Our
research group examines the development of social and reproductive
behaviors in keystone mammals such as elephants as well as the
mechanisms, especially chemical that mediate these interactions. In
recent years, we have taken more of a conservation behavior approach,
as we work to reduce human-wildlife conflict by studying the
behavioral ecology of these species, specifically their modes of
communication, reproductive patterns and social systems. We work in
Africa on elephants and other mammals. We also have conducted
research with beavers and manatees. On more of a behavioral
management level, we have begun working with horses. Applications of
our research strive to use an understanding of behavior to facilitate
positive human-animal interactions.

Dr. Debra Shier

San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation
Research Brown Endowed Scientist

For the past 15 years, I have been studying the
ways in which an understanding of animal behavior and behavioral
ecology can be applied to conservation strategies such as
reintroductions and translocations. In general, my research has
focused on using basic theory to create effective and efficient
relocation methods by encouraging settlement, dampening stress, and
increasing post-release survival and reproductive success. My
research addresses 1) the kinds of learning experiences that are
required for the development of effective anti-predator behavior
after release into the wild, 2) how social relationships among
founders may affect their survival following translocation 3) the
effects of scent communication in the translocation process, 4)
whether natal habitat preferences can be exploited to enhance release
site settlement and 5) the effects of behavioral consistency
(temperament) on post-release survival. My current research examines
these questions in two endangered Heteromyids, the Pacific pocket
mouse and Stephens’ kangaroo rat.

My research focuses on
proximate mechanisms underlying three types of complex social
behavior in giant pandas, courtship and mating, maternal behavior,
and social play. Currently, I am investigating hormonal and
developmental variables that contribute to the expression of these
behaviors.

Our lab group
investigates how human alteration of the landscape affects the
behavior, physiology, ecology, and fitness of wildlife. Recent
projects have focused on various forms of land alteration and
pollution. We have a very active
lab of undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs, and are
always looking for new collaborators and colleagues to join our
program at the interface of behavioral ecology and conservation.

Ron Swaisgood serves
San Diego Zoo Global as the Brown Endowed Director of Applied Animal
Ecology and is the General Scientific Director of Cocha Cashu
Biological Station in Manu National Park in the Peruvian Amazon.
Swaisgood earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Ph.D. in Animal Behavior from the
University of California at Davis. He supervises several conservation
science programs, primarily in California, Mexico, China, South
Africa and Peru. These include (1) ecological and behavioral research
programs for several bear and other mammalian species (2) population
monitoring and adaptive management programs for several local bird,
reptile and amphibian species; and (3) translocation/reintroduction
programs for several species such as kangaroo rats, owls, rhinoceros,
condors, tortoises, and frogs. Most of Swaisgood’s research
experience focuses on using ecological and behavioral theory to
address critical conservation problems, using science as a tool for
improved conservation management. His research program has addressed
questions relating to mating systems, communication, denning ecology,
spatial ecology, habitat selection, foraging ecology, and
reintroduction biology.

Work in my lab
centers on the roles of ecology and behavior in rapid evolutionary
change. We work with real organisms in their real habitats, and also
use laboratory experimentation and phylogenetic tools to understand
the forces that shape diversity in animal communication and social
systems. We focus most on sexual signaling. Recently, we’ve been
thinking a lot about how anthropogenic change might alter
evolutionary trajectories through changes in behavior. For instance,
how do human-driven changes in ecology influence female mating
decisions, and what are the evolutionary consequences for mate choice
systems?

My
research includes studies of the reproductive behavior and physiology
and abiotic and biotic requirements for reproductive success of fish
species that are federally listed as threatened or endangered. One
of my ultimate goals is to use this information, along with
information on fish behavior as it relates to thermoregulation,
foraging, and bioenergetics, to develop mathematical models within an
individual-based and spatially-explicit framework that describe
aquatic community dynamics.

Dr. Marian Wong

Lecturer Marine Biology

School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong,
NSW, Australia

I am a behavioral
ecologist interested in understanding how abiotic stressors influence
the social and reproductive behaviors of group-living fishes. I
currently work on a range of species, including coral reef and
African cichlid fishes.